Bullet handling apparatus



1946. R. w. VERGOBBI BULLET HANDLING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 21, 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet '1 INVENTOR. I ffa'b j" Ull -111m 0 9 -61 2.5M Q MQ AM.

HTTOR/VEY g 20, 1946 R. w. VERGOBBI 2,406,176

BULLE' I HANDLING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 21, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 TNT 1 m2 0 v firm wan. v3. a;

4 sawgmcm ATILORNEY;

0 1946. R. w. VERGOBBI 2,405,176

BULLET HANDLING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 21, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 1 g l INVENTOR. cm 1 KM MA m $5 BY Asem cLMm ATTORNEY Aug. 2%, 1945,

R. \N. VERGOBBI BULLET HANDLING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 21, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORI. 5 4,. mm r fil,

ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 20, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE to Pneumatic Scale Corporation,

Limited,

Quincy, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application January 21, 1943, Serial No. 473,092

6 Claims.

t'ihis'invention relates to bullet handling appara us.

The invention has for an object to provide novel and improved bullet handling apparatus which is adapted to release bullets from a bulk supply thereof, in which they are haphazardly or indiscriminately stored, and to cause the bullets to assume an orderly and uniform arrangement in a simple, positive and expeditious manner, whereby to dispose the bullets in a position such as to facilitate the packing thereof.

With this general object in view, and such others as may hereinafter appear, the invention consists in the bullet handling apparatus and in the various structures, arrangements and combinations of parts hereinafter described and particularly defined in the claims at the end of this specification.

In the drawings illustrating the preferred embodiment of the invention, Fig. 1 is a side elevation of apparatus for feeding and arranging bullets embodying the present invention; Fig. 2 is a side elevation in cross section of the bullet supply hopper and withdrawing mechanism to be referred to; Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan view, partly in cross section, as viewed from the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is an enlarged side elevation in cross section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 5 of a detail to be referred to; Fig. 5 is a view in cross section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a perspective view illustrating the driving mechanism of the present apparatus; Fig. 7 is a plan view of the delivery end of the apparatus, some of the parts being broken away to more clearly illustrate the invention; Fig. 8 is a side elevation in cross section taken on the line 88 of Fi 7; Figs. 9 and 10 are enlarged detail views in cross section taken on the lines 9-9 and I -H! respectively of Fig. 8; Fig. 11 is an enlarged detail view in cross section to be referred to; and Fig. 12 is a plan view of the supporting member, shown in Fig. 8, into which the bullets are delivered as will hereinafter be more fully described.

The present invention contemplates apparatus for feeding and orienting elongated conical or tapered articles, such as bullets, which is preferably arranged to deliver the articles in a uniform arrangement to a supporting tray from which they may be conveniently and readily transferred,

into a carton or other container to be packed,- for shipment. In general, the apparatus comprises a supply hopper, in which a bulk supply of the haphazardly arranged bullets are stored, having mechanism associated therewith for withdrawing the bullets to present them end to end in a plurality of adjacent elongated rows upon conveyer belts, without discrimination as to whether the bullets point forward or backward. The bullets thus being fed are then presented to an orienting device arranged to cause the bullets to assume a position in which they all point in the same direction and provision is made for delivering the orientated bullets, by a chute, into a palet comprising a studded tray for supporting the bullets in a uniformly arranged and compact group. The bullets thus arranged may be readily and conveniently transferred into a carton or other container in which they are to be packed by merely inverting the group of bullets into the container.

Referring now to the drawings, which as above stated illustrate the preferred embodiment of the invention, It) represents a hopper into which a bulk supply of the bullets are deposited. The hopper is provided with a sloping bottom plate I which serves to divert the flow of bullets into an offset portion [6, at the lower end of which is disposed the bullet feeding or releasing mechanism indicated generally at l8. An adjustable plate 20 may be attached to an intermediate wall 22 of the hopper, as shown, in order to control the flow of the bullets into the releasing mechanism. The offset portion I6 of the hopper is preferably open at the top so as to enable the operator to observe the progress of the bullets as they pass into the releasing mechanism I 8 and to render the mechanism easily accessible.

The bullet feeding or releasing mechanism I8 as best shown in Figs. 2 and 3, comprises a plurality of pairs of opposed semi-spherically grooved or channeled wheels 24, 26, each pair having their peripheral edges in substantially contiguous engagement so that the semi-spherical or concave grooves 28 of each pair of wheels cooperate to form a substantially circular opening 30 at the point of tangency through which a bullet may pass in a longitudinal direction. The opposed wheels 24, 26 are mounted upon shafts 32, 34 respectively which are journaled in suitable hearings in side rames 36, 38, the latter forming the side walls of the hopper as shown. The side frames 36, 38 are mounted upon the platen 40 of the machine frame which is in turn supported upon legs 42.

Provision is made for rotating the opposed wheels 24, 26 and, as best shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the shafts 32, 34 are geared together to be simultaneously driven in opposed directions by gears 44, 46. The shaft 34 is provided at one end with a sprocket 48 which is connected by a chain 50 e2 to a sprocket 52, see Fig. 6, fast on a drive shaft 54 which may be driven through connections from the motor 56 as will be hereinafter described. It will be observed that the sprocket 48 is loosely mounted on the shaft 34 and is arranged to drive the wheels 24, 26 through a spring-pressed friction clutch unit indicated at 58 which is capable. of slipping to prevent damage to the operating parts in the event of a jam. Provision is also preferably made for adjusting the shaft 32 axially with relation to the shaft 34 in order to accurately position the opposed wheels with relation to each other and, as herein shown, the shaft 32 is journaled in slide blocks 60: capa ble of being adjusted in slide bearings 64 by threaded hand wheels 66' and rods 68. Stop screws 10 provided in the ends of the slide bearings serve to limit the forward movement of the slide blocks so as to present the wheels 24 in cooperative engagement with the wheels 26.

As indicated bythe arrows in Fig. 2, the opposed grooved wheels 20,- 26 are rotated" in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of the bullets therebetween so as to tend to lift the mass of bullets upwardly and to keep them in motion until they assume a vertical position in alignment with the circular openings 30 whereupon'suchbullets fall through, the openings by gravity. In order toassist the bullets to assume Q the proper position to. enable them to fall through the openings 303111 a. longitudinal direction, provision is'made for agitating and guiding the mass of bullets during the rotation of the wheels 24, 26. As" herein: shown, eccentric members I2, 13 are provided between alternate wheels of each group or set of wheels .26, 2 6 and asbest shown in Figs; 2" and 3, theieccentric members 12 mounted between alternate wheelsof one set, 24, pass between spaces I4 formed between the opposing set 26'. Eacheccentric member 12 is provided with a plurality of high points, herein shown as three, and successive eccentric members are also preferably set back or fanned. out with relation to each other around the circumference of the wheels, as clearly'illustrated in Fig. 2, so that in operation,.' as successive high points of the eccentrics-rotate upwardly through the'mass of bullets,they operate to progressively agitate the mass and tend to liftthose-bullets which are horizontally disposed "in the hopper to cause them to assume a substantially-vertical position. Thus, in operation, those bullets adjacent the openings 30 which are in a Substantially vertical position are free tofall by gravity through such openings tobe separated from the mass of bullets in the;.hopper. The second group of eccentricmembers 'I'3are similarly disposed between alternate wheels of theset 26 mounted on the shaft 36 except. that the members 13 ar disposed between different alternate wheels to enable them to pass between. the spaces formed between the opposing setiof: wheels 24' as clearly shown in Fig. 3. Allv of the wheels, and the eccentrics disposed therebetween'are' adjustably mounted with relation to each-other, being held in assembled relation by' elongatedbolts '36 which pass through slotted openings 76 formed in the wheels and the eccentrics; as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. VI/ith this construction it will be seen that in the operation of the machine, the eccentrics/act as combs .orrakes to comb through the mass of bull'ets'and to guide them into the grooves 28 in a longitudinal position so that they may pass through the openings 30;

In order to further assist in guiding the bullets 4 into the spherical openin s 30 formed between opposed pairs of wheels, bent pieces of spring wire are secured at suitable spaced intervals in the grooves 20 of one set of wheels 24. In operation, the spring members 80 yieldingly press against and gently raise those bullets which approach the opening 30 in an improper position so as to enable themcto become agitated with the mass until they assume a vertical position. For example, if two bullets coming down opposed grooves 26 meet above the opening 30 so that further progress is impeded, the spring member 80 will effect separation thereof, lifting one upwardly and permitting the remaining bullet to fall through. Also, in' the event that a pair of bullets should become hooked together by the grooved portions; adjacent their firing ends: the gentle raising movement effected by the springs 80 will tend to yieldingly lift the pair upwardly to enable them to become disengaged in the mass, thus-avoiding blocking of the opening 30 and clearing a path for subsequent properly positioned bullets .t'ofall through.

From the description thus far it will be observed that the' present feeding or releasing mechanism is operative to release elongated cylindrical objects such as bullets, either of the tapered or conical form or those bullets which are-of substantially uniform'cross section throughout their-length.

After the bullets pass through the openings 30; provision is madefor guiding them from their vertical position into ahorizontal position and to transfer them onto horizontally disposed feed belts 82 and as herein shown,- this is accomplished by a guide member 84, The guide member, as herein shown,-comprises' a curved. plate supported substantially concentrically to the. set of wheels 26 and down which the bullets slide end to end after-passing through the openings 30. During'their travel down the plate the bullets are supported laterally between the grooves or channels 28" of their respective wheels 26. The bullets thus being fed' in their axially aligned position slide onto their individual belts 62 upon which they are carried fowardly end, to end in single file but without discrimination as to which end of a bullet. comprises the forward end.

As herein shown, the-guide plate 8 3 is attached toa; supporting bracket 86 provided with arms 88 mounted on studs90, 92 extending from the side frames 36,. 38. respectively. The bracket 86 is retained; in operative-position with respect to the wheels 26' by an arm. 94 connected at one end to a, lug. 96. at the rear of the bracket 86 and connected at its. other end to a stud QS-journaled in a bearing-bracket I00 attached to the platen 40. With this construction it will be seen that no relativemovement of the-parts is permitted when assembled inoperative position, as shown. However, provision is made for quickly and easily moving the: guide plate out of its operative positionin the event of a jam. As herein illustrated, the stud 98. is detachably retained in the bracket I00 by a curved spring member I02 which is mounted to yieldingly press into a groove I03 formed in the stud 98 soas to prevent withdrawal thereof. In operation, the set of Wheels 24 is first moved back out of th way by turning the hand wheels- 66 and then by manuallypressing theqspring I02 out of the groove I 63, ,thestud -98"may be Withdrawn; The arm 94 is thus re,- leased? sov that the supportin bracket: 86 may be rocked backwardlyon; its pivots 90, 9.2. out of its operative position.

the guide plate 34.

As clearly shown in Fig. 5, the upper portion of the guide plate 04 is shaped in the form of a plurality of fingers I04 having slots. I06 formed therein for the passage of the bent wire spring members 60, the spaces I08 between the fingers I04 providing clearance for the eccentric disks 12, 13. The plate supporting bracket 86 is also provided with slots for passage of the eccentric disks as are the front wall II4 of the hopper and the bottom plate I4, as shown in Fig. 2.

The individual belts 82 upon which the bullets are carried forwardly in single file and arranged end to end, run over pulleys H6, H8 and across a guide plate I20 supported upon brackets I22 attached to the platen 40. The idler pulley H6 is carried on a shaft, I24 supported between arms I26 of a bracket I28 dependin from the underside of the guide plate I20, and may be provided with grooved portions I30, as shown, to permit passage of the eccentric disks 13 th'erethrough. The driven pulley H8 is mounted fast upon the drive shaft 54 and is formed integrally with the orienting device, indicated generally at I32. The orienting device comprises a plurality of spaced circular disks I34 between which the individual bullets are received and carried up to permit them to swing around so that each bullet will point downwardly, as will be hereinafter more fully described.

The bullets are guided on the belts 82 between rails I36 upstanding from the guide plate I20 which may and preferably will be provided with a transparent top or cover I38 whereby to enable the progress of the bullets to be observed and to enclose the guideways to prevent foreign matter from entering therein.

Provision is made for stopping each line of bullets and for releasing the foremost bullet in each line so as to permit all of the foremost bullets of the several lines to enter the orienting device simultaneously while the remainder of each line is held back, and as herein shown, a timing and releasing device, indicated generally at I39 is arranged to release successive transverse rows of bullets periodically so as to permit orderly arrangement thereof when they are discharged from the orienting device, as will be hereinafter described. The bullets are advanced along their respective belts until the foremost bullet in each line comes to rest against an individual stop finger I40 carried by and depending from a transverse bar I42 arranged to be moved into and out of alignment with the bullets in the guideways I44. As herein shown, the transverse bar I 42 is slidingly mounted in side brackets I46, I48 attached to the forward end of A spring I50 is arranged to move the transverse bar in one direction to align the fingers I40 with their respective guideways I44, the bar being adjustably limited in its movement in this direction by a stop screw I52. The bar I42 is arranged to be intermittently moved in the opposite direction, to permit the bullets to pass, by connections including a cam I54 mounted on a cam shaft I56 and which is arranged to cooperate with a roller I58 carried by one arm I60 of a bell crank, as best shown in Fig. 6. The bell crank is pivotally mounted on a cross shaft I62 and the second arm I63 thereof is connected by a link I64 to a lever I66 carried at the lower end of a vertically mounted shaft I68. The upper end of the shaft I68 carries an arm I arranged to engage one end of the transverse bar I 24 to effect movement of the bar to the left, viewing Fig. 10, to permit thebullets to pass 6 through into the orienting device at the proper time.

In order to hold back the remainder of each line of bullets so that only the foremost thereof passes into the orientin device, a second transverse bar I12 is provided which is also slidingly mounted in the side brackets I46, I48. The transverse bar I12 is provided with a plurality of depending flat springs I14 arranged to extend into the guideways I44 and the bar I12 is arranged to be moved to the left, viewing Fig. 9, by a spring I16 to dispose the fiat springs in sockets I11 cut in the upstanding rails I36, as illustrated, to permit the bullets to pass. A stop screw I13 is provided to limit the movement of the bar I12 to the left, and movement in the opposite direction, which is effected by a cam I80, will cause the fiat springs I14 to be yieldingly pressed against the side of their adjacent bullets to hold the rows stationary. The cam I is mounted on the cam shaft I 56 and is arranged to cooperate with a roller I82 carried by one arm I84 of a two armed lever, the second arm I86 of which is connected by a link I88 to an arm I90 on the lower end of a vertical sh'aft I92. The upper end of the shaft I92 carries an arm I94 arranged to engage one end of the bar I12 to effect movement thereof to the right viewing Fig. 9.

The cams I54, I80 are designed so that in the operation of the device, when the bar I42 is moved to release the foremost bullets in each line, the bar I12 is moved to hold back the remainder of each line, and after the foremost bullets have passed into the orienting device, the bar I 42 is again moved to move the fingers I40 into alignment with the guideways I44 and the bar I12 is moved to release the lines of bullets and to permit a succeeding group of foremost bullets to be advanced on the continuously moving belts 82 to engage the fingers I40 in readiness for a succeeding cycle of operation of the machine.

When starting the machine, in order to assure that each guideway or reservoi I44 is supplied with a sufiicient number of bullets to begin operation, provision is made for rendering the bar I12 ineffective to release any bullets until all the guideways have been provided with bullets from the releasing device. As herein shown, a manually operated latch I06, pivotally mounted at I90 in the side bracket I 46, is arranged to be manually rocked to the right, viewing Fig. 9 to the position illustrated in dotted lines therein, in which position the latch I96 will engage a stop member 200 provided on the bar I12 in order to hold the bar back against the tension of the spring I16. Thus, the fiat springs I14 are held in position to engage and hold the lines of bullets as they are delivered from the releasing device, and when a sumcient number of bullets have been supplied to start operation, as may be observed through the transparent cover I38, the latch I96 is rocked back out of the way to permit normal operation of the device, as above described.

From the description thus far it will be observed that a transverse row of bullets comprising the foremost bullets in each line thereof is periodically released into the orienting device I32 and that when the bullets arrive at the orienting device they may be pointed head first or tail first according to the position in which they were released from the feeding device I8, as above described. The orienting device I32 'is :designed ;to .,-receive the conical ishapedqbullets between the spaced disks I34 as the bullets are advanced upon the belts :82; see Fig.8. Those bullets which arrive in such position with the smaller end or head in advance are engaged zby'the spaced disks 134 at sucha pointthat as they are thus carried up between the rotating ndiskssthe unbalanced weight of the head or pellet ;.end'of the-,bulleticauses it .to rotate into a ver- .tical. position, asshown in Fig. 11. Those-bullets arriving with the firing end or tail portion .firstzare-lifted upby the widened portion of the .disks, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 8, until :the edges of the disks engagethe conical sides -,of.th e:bu1let-a s abovedescribedso that when the bullets arrive at the discharging side of the orientingdevice, theyall point in the sameldirectiongthat is, head or pellet enddown.

Whenthe bullets arriveat the discharge side :of the disks I34, they are arranged to be .dis-

:charged into individual V-shaped groove mem- {hers 3020f a chute 2% arranged to ,projectdnto a position to pick off the bullets and to guide ztherbullets into selected rows of a pallet ,comprising .a studded tray 295, supported :upon an rangularly, disposed guide bracket'Z G8. The pallets :may the manually placed and moved upon the :supportingbracket. :Inorder to-assist those bullets which are slow in turning into a vertical position as they ;are .carried between the disks 134, :and -;to assure that-each bullet is rotated to .a position .such as to enable the chute 204 to remove it :in the proper position, -a brush :2 t9; isgprovided'which: is arrangedto brush against the upper ends :of :the bullets as :they pass Ithe tbrush,=as illustrated. The :brush :is carried by a stationary janglemember '2l2 secured to an ex- :tended portion (21,4 of the bracket 2E5 in which ':the:shaft E lis :journa'lled. The'brush is positioned-atan angle, as sh0wn, to engage the-bullets iust before they arrive at-the point of discharge non the :downwardly traveling side of the disks B4. In this manner, a substantially vertical position-of the bullets-is assuredwhen they-arrive at thepoint rof discharge, and also any slight frictional resistance of the bullet :against the sides of the :disks2l34 may be overcome'to enable the bullets to turn .freely: into the :position shown 'iniFig. 8.

,As' shown in 12,-the pallet 2 65 comprises a ibase portion 218 and a plurality of :short pales or studs "22!) :upstanding therefrom to form a :plurality 70f equally spaced rows thereof. The spacesor sockets "222 formed between four adja- =centlstuds 229 are proportioned to receive the ibulletscand to support them in a substantially =.vertical position, head down so-that'the periphreries of adjacent bullets supported thereby are substantially in contact with each other whereby to "form -a compact and uniform arrangement :thereof'suitable for'packaging.

:Asherein shown, the chute 232 is cut out to provide a plurality of ifingers 224 extending into the spaces 226 formed between adjacent disks |V34,lan'd the V-shaped grooves 262 are arranged to converge downwardly as illustrated to guide the :bullets into adjacent spaces 222 'o'f the pallet 206; It will be observed that the number of bullets released into the chute .202 per cycle of operation of the machine, herein shown as :ten, preferably correspondsto the number of spaces 22,6 inpnetransverse row of the pallet. In order :to successively -fill adjacent grows of the pallet, provision is made for automatically "moving the adelivery-endofgthe chute so .thatlupomcompleting 10118 cycle 'of zoperation #to :fill one row-of #the lpalletpherein shown as -the-top row, the chute 'is'moVedto present the'deliveryend-thereoi into 'aposition to fill an adjacent row during the-next cycle of operation until, in the illustrated device, the-five rows arefilled, whereupon the delivery endof the chute is automatically raised to fill carries a roller .2 which-cooperates withacam 242 mounted fast on a-slowly rotating cam shaft 2M. vA spring 225 -may :be provided to hold the roller (2% against its cam. As shown in Figs. '1 and-oythe ca-m 2421s provided z-vvith'fiveprog-res- "sivelyiincreased cam surfaces, and, the cam is driven in timed relation to the release of the bullets into rthe chute 262 so that-each time-a row of bullets is delivered tothepallet, the chute is :moved a distance corresponding to one row until the .last row is "filled whereupon a .sharpv drop in the cam surface operates to raise :the chute into a position to fill the top :row of a succeeding pallet. An-upperguideplate 2&8 may be provided on the chute adjacent the point of minimum convergence where the V-shaped grooves change from an angular to -a straight r positiomas shown,in order'to-prevent'therelatively swiftly traveling bullets vfrom being -diverted out of the chuteat this point.

As above stated, the macliine'may be driven through connections from a motor -56 and, as

shown herein, the motor is connected'by'arbelt 259 to a :clutch pulley v252 ;mounted on a'lshaft 254 and which is arranged to be engaged and disengaged in 'drivingre'lation to the shaft 254 by connections including a clutchhandle 256 as clearlyshown in Figs. 1 and 16. The shaft 254 is provided with a pinion 258 meshing *Willh a gear 250 on an intermediate-shaft1262 andthe latter shaft isprovided-with a pinion v264 cooperating with a gear266 fast .on the cam :shaft 56. The driving mechanism iromthe camshaft 55 to the pulley and orienting disk 54 includes a pinion 268 on the shaf I56, a gear 210 :on

'anlinterme'diate :shaft 212, and a sprocket 2T4 connectedby 1a :chainZlB to arsprocket 218 fast onthe shaft '54. The slower moving cam shaft 244 is provided with a large gear 283 which meshes'tvith Zthegear 219 on the shaft 2l2,'the pinion 2E8 completing the-train to drive the shaft .244 at a ratio of five to one for the purpose described.

'In practice, when a pallet is filled, the operator may take a carton or other container in one hand and place it .in an inverted position on top of the bullets in the palletfheld in the other hand, and by simply inverting the :members, lthe bullets may upon removal of thepallet be transferred intothe container in the desired position. Although this operation :has been describedas being manually effected, :itis appreciated that the pallets maybe moved into positionautomatically.

'I'o recapitulate, in the operation of the machine, the bullets in :the supply hopper It are selectively released therefrom by the releasing :mechanism .438 :to present .the bullets longitu- 9 dinal rows, end to end, in the guideways I44 without discrimination as to whether the bullets point forwardly or backwardly. The lines of bullets thus being advanced on the continuously moving belts 82 are brought to rest by the timing and releasing mechanism I39 which is adapted to release a transverse row comprising the foremost bullet in each line, into the orienting device I32. As the bullets are carried around between the disks I34 of the orienting device they are caused to rotate into a substantially vertical position with the heavier or pellet end of each bullet pointing downwardly. The bullets are then discharged from the orienting device in their orientated position onto a chute 262 which is arranged to guide the bullets into a pallet having provision for supporting a plurality of adjacent rows of bullets. During each cycle of operation one row of bullet is fed into the pallet and upon delivery of one such row the delivery end of the chute 202 is moved to present it into alignment with the next adjacent row in the pallet until the last row is filled. The operator then positions an empty pallet in operative position and the operations of the machine are repeated.

From the above description it will be observed that the present apparatus is particularly adapted for handling elongated tapered articles such as bullets in a simple and expeditious manner to cause them to assume a uniform and compact arrangement to facilitate the packing thereof.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been herein illustrated and described, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied in other forms within the scope of the following claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. In a bullet handling machine, the combination with means including an endless conveyor for feeding bullets in adjacent horizontally disposed longitudinal rows end to end without discrimination as to whether the pellet end point forwardly or rearwardly, of orienting mechanism comprising spaced rotary disks between which said conveyor passes and by which the bullets are fed in a horizontal position to be engaged along their sides in a manner such as to permit swiveling of the bullets as they are carried between said rotating disks whereby to dispose the heavier or pellet end of each bullet downwardly, and a delivery chute disposed on the opposite side of said spaced disks and having a plurality of fingers extended between the disks disposed to cause the bullets to be discharged with their pellet ends foremost.

2. In a machine of the character described, in combination, a plurality of continuously moving horizonta1 belts for feeding bullets in adjacent longitudinal rows end to end without discrimination as to whether the pellet ends point forwardly or rearwardly, and an orienting device comprising spaced rotary disks between which said belts pass and by which the bullets being fed by the belts are engaged along their sides in a manner such as to permit swiveling of the bullets as they are carried between said rotating disks whereby to dispose the heavier or pelletend of each bullet downwardly, and a delivery chute disposed on the opposite side of said spaced disks and having a plurality of fingers extended between the disks disposed to cause the bullets to be dischargd with their pellet ends foremost.

3. In a machine of the character described, in combination, a continuously moving horizontal 10 belt for feeding tapered bullets end to end in an elongated row without discrimination as to whether their larger or smaller diameter ends are directed forwardly or rearwardly, and an orienting device comprising spaced rotary disk between which said belt passes and by which the bullets being fed on the belt are engaged at a point spaced from a vertical line passing through the center of said disks, said disks having peripheral grooves on their inner faces forming a widened portion therebetween, those bullets being fed with their smaller diameter ends foremost passing between said disks to be engaged along their tapering sides by adjacent edges of the disks to permit swiveling of the bullets as they are carried therebetween to dispose the smaller diameter ends downwardly, and those bullets being fed with their larger diameter ends foremost being engaged by said widened portion and in cooperation with the advancing movement of the belt effecting lifting of the larger diameter ends until the tapered sides of the bullets are engaged by the adjacent edges of the disks to permit similar swiveling movement, and a delivery chute disposed on the opposite side of said spaced disks and having a plurality of fingers extended between the disk disposed to cause the bullets to be discharged with their smaller ends foremost.

4. In a bullet handling machine, the combination with means including an endless horizon tally disposed conveyer for feeding bullets in adjacent longitudinal rows end to end without discrimination as to whether the pellet ends point forwardly or rearwardly, of orienting mechanism comprising paced rotary disks between which said conveyer passes and by which the bullets are fed to be engaged along their sides in a manner such as to permit swiveling of the bullets as they are carried between said rotating disks whereby to dispose the heavier or pellet end of each bullet downwardly, and a delivery chute into which the bullets are discharged in their oriented position said chute having a plurality of V-shaped fingers formed integrally therewith ex tended between the disks and disposed at an angle such as to cause the bullets to be discharged with their pellet ends foremost.

5. In a machine of the character described, in combination, a plurality of continuously moving horizontal belts for feeding tapered bullets in adjacent longitudinal rows end to end without discrimination as to whether the pellet ends point forwardly or rearwardly, a pulley over which said belts run, and an orienting device comprising spaced rotary disks formed integrally with said pulley and between which the bullets are fed to be engaged along their tapered sides in a manner such as to permit swiveling of the bullets as they are carried between said rotating disks whereby to dispose the heavier or pellet end of each bullet downwardly, and a delivery chute disposed on the opposite side of said spaced disks and having a plurality of fingers extended between the disks disposed to cause the bullets to be discharged with their pellet ends foremost.

6. In a machine of the character described, in combination, a plurality of continuously moving horizontal belts for feeding bullets in adjacet longitudinal rows end to end without discrimination as to whether the pellet ends point forwardly or rearwardly, and an orienting device comprising spaced rotary disks between which said belts pass and by which the bullets being fed by the belts are engaged alon their sides in a manner such as to permit swiveling of the bulv 2;4oe;1'z6 i r lets as they are carried between said" rotating" entifig dv'i'oe' 2i deliyei'y chute dip'osecf onf t-liize diskwhel eby'to'disbose t'hehavier' oi' p'ellotend" opposite- 5mg ofs'fid" spaced dil -a=nd figwih aa of each bullet downwardly; and iiitermitten'tly morality offiidger's extendd Betweeh'bhdi operating means associated with said confirm:- disposed tooause'whe bullfis to -6- discharged ously moving belts' for simultaneously releasing with their'pellofex'ids foremost; o

the foremost bullet in each row into-said'ori- R'OBERT'WILLIAM VERGGBBIE" 

